Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 25, Number 81, Decatur, Adams County, 5 April 1927 — Page 1

I LEATHER I e.|t tonight and I Wf( jne«d»y Sli(|h ‘'rt Xr tonight and north portion Wednesday.

ELECTRIC LIGHT RATE REDUCED HERE

[Harold Durbin Faces Trial For Murder At Lansing

I MM WITH SHTINS WOMAN ON JANUARY 24 Former Adams County Man Goes On Trial Today At Lansing, Michigan FIR S T DEGREE MI RDER CHARGED Lansing, Mich.. April 5.— (U. P.)—Harold Durbin, who on I January 21. allegedly shot and I killed Mrs. Mildred McQueen and then turned the gun on himself, will go on trial here today on a ' charge of first degree murder. Durbin fmorerlv resided in Adams county. Indiana, his parents being residents of Pleasant Mills. Indiana, at present. According to testimony brought out 1 at the inquest and preliminary examination. Durbin hail been keeping I company with the woman and on the night of the shooting waited for her I to return to her home. When she I came he asked her to sit and talk with I him in his automobile. After they I had chatted for some time, the shnotI ing occurred. I Mrs. McQueen died almost instant I ly. it is believed, the bullet entering I the right side of her head and passI inc into her brain. Durbin with a self-inflicted wound I in the head was sh the hospital for t| several weeks before b'eln?"reYrio'ved II to 'he countv jail at Mason. I Durbin, who is married, is 28 years I old. The murdered woman was 32 I and the mother of three children. I o I D. M, LTpnJpv Enters Fort Wayne Hospital f - ... , ■ j ot Deca ir. was taken i.. st .ii'w.riei ■ ' t| n sjiitai. Fort M ayne. yesterday, in '| nil probability he will be operated on Wednesday or Thursday. Mr. Hensley | has been suffering front stomach | trouble for sometime and has been in | a serious condition for the past ten davs. o . Shot By Burglar Logansport, Ind., April s.—(United Press) —Chales McDowell. 50, a stock buyer, was shot and slightly wounded early today when he surprised a burglar in his home. The thief escaped. • , FARM INSTITUTE CHAIRMEN MEET Plans Made For Holding Annual Institute Early In I February In 1928 . | < hairmen of the township farmers nstitutes met at the county agent's °ffice Monday afternoon and perfect- '! plans for the series of institutes o be held next, winter. It was decided to have the institutes early in 'binary, at the corresponding time hey were held last winter. Other discussion of a general nature as to f ways in which the institutes can . most helpful took place. Those present were, Cal Kunkel, Monmouth: Dan Seherry, Kirkland; • T. Rupert, Monroe: C. D. Spuller, Milt° n: BIUM ’ Berne and W " W ' L , r. St. Marys. Hartford township as the only farmers institute not Piosented at the meeting. ‘’l Kunkel was elected county a ‘ rinan and C. D. Spuller county rotary for the coming year. Merriman’s Death Decured Monday Morning tlnv- UaS erroneouß| y stated in yester . s Daily Democrat that C. W. Mer,eatl> oct ’” rre( ' Sunday mornMr. Merriman died at 8 o’clock Monday morning.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXV. No. 81.

Two Trucks Collide On South Third Street One of the city’s coal trucks, driven by Melvin Smlthley, and an Fiber- ' «on gasoline truck, driven by D m Mer rlman, collided on South Third street at übout 2 o'clock this afternoon. The Elberson truck was headed north and the city truck going south when the accident happened. The Elberson truck was damaged the most, the left fender being bent and the frame sprung. A barrel of oil fell off the Elberson truck and burst. o — TO HOLO GRADE TEST SATURDAY Eighth Grade Pupils Os County To Take Examination On Work Announcement was made today, by County Superintendent Clifton E. Striker, that tiie first county Eighth grade examination of the year will he held Saturday, April 9. at one school in each township. In most townships, the trustee will have charge of the examina-l tion. ( The examination will be over the year's work, and will include all subjects. with the exception of argiculturo, domestic science and manual training. The various centers where the tests will be held will open at abotit 8:30 o’clock Saturday morning of writing until they have completed a ai. UuuuwiU. wiiUwxft-Mie. ariulg££. the entire examination. For those who fail in subjects, a second trial will be permitted Saturday May 14 This will be the last opportunity of the year for pupils to take the examination which, when successfully passed, entitles the pupils to enter high school. The examinations will be given at ~ - —. ............... -- >XnJßWiiini . ....... j school with John PJakev in charge: uno r.'.v.. ■ school with Tmost Lewton in charge: Preble townshin at district 4 school with Ernest Worthman in charge; Kirkland township at Kirkland high school with Charles Arnold in charge: Washington township at district 7 school with Mrs. T. R. Noll in charge; St. Marvs township at Pleasant Mills high school with Orlen Fortney in charge; Dine Creek township at district 5 school with Ilarvev Sipe in charge: Mrhroe township at district 5 school with Vance Mattox in charge; French township, district 3 school with Martin Moeschberger in charge: Hartford townshin at Hartford township high school; Wabash townshin at Geneva high school with Otis Burke in charge: Jefferson township at Jefferson high school with Helen Kenney in charge. o— VIOLENCE MASKS CHICAGO ELECTION Armed Gangsters At Work As Voters Go To Polls In Mayoralty Election Chicago, April s.—(United Press)— Violence marked the opening hours of Chicago’s three-ply mayoralty election today as more than one hundred skauds of police whirled through the city attempting to keep peace. Within the first four hours two eelctlon judges had been kidnapped: two voters held up by rifle-armed gangsters; voters in one ward intinidated; two precinct clubs bombed, ai. l several arrests had been made. The flash of machine gun denoted Chicago police's answer to the riotous spirit. Thirty-five squads trained in manning the rapid fire guns were bn constant patrol duty to prevent any outbreak of serious rioting. Police are working in 12 hour shifts to keep violence to a manimum, and It is estimated that more than 5,000 officers will be patrolling the city during the day. .

CONTRACT LET FOR PAVING OF MOK ROAD Putman Construction Company Low Bidder For Contract On Road No. 27. OTHER CONTRACTS ARE LET BY STATE Indianapolis, April 5 (I'nitjed Press) Slate highway commission opened bids today for I bituminous road work to be , i completed during the 1927 season. This is dividejl into nine con- . tracts, including bituininuous i treatment, bituminous macadam I and some rock asnhtdf. Fortv- | five counties of the slate will receive benefits from the work. According to John I). Williams, di- , rector, there are 67 miles of bituminous macadam. 163 miles of surface : treatment on the bituminous, 81.25 j m’les of surface treatment on traffic I bound roads, and from three to eight miles of rock asphalt surface. The work will cost approximately one million dollars and will call for the use of almost two million gallons of bituminous material. This work, in addition to the 275 miles of pavement, to be done in 1927. Low bidders on the various contracts included: Putman Construction company, $121,489 58 for contract ~TT: inriitdlnr road. X Wells and Aden eounies. 7 miles bituminous surface treatment, road 27. Adams chunty. 4 5 miles bituminous macadam, road 27. Adams and Allen counties, 7.51 miles bituminous surface treatment. The contract for 4.5 miles of bi'umincus macadam road on state route No. 27 referred to above is for • (W nor Hon =o'.’-.h. from .D.o.eu'."'- to Monroe. ' '=9**“ —" — New Stop Signs Placed New stop signs have been placed on all streets nt 'he five-points intersection on South Second street. The word "stop" is printed in red letters about a foot high, on a white slab. City officials are determined to regulate traffic at this dangerous street Intersection so that no accidents will occur.

PLAN SERVICES ON GOOD FRIDAY Seven Churches Plan Union Service; Merchants Asked To Close Stores The seven Protestant churches of ■ Decatur, that are represented in the ' Decatur Ministrial Association, will cooperate again this year in holding a union Good Friday service. The service will be held in the Zion Reformed church, Friday, April 15. starting at 12 o'clock noon, and continuing until 3 o'clock. The order of the service will be the same as that followed in last year's service. Each of the seven pastors will deliver a short address. A detailed program tor the service will be published later The service last year was held in the First Methodist church and a capacity audience was present through out the meeting. The service is so arranged that persons may come and go without remaining throughout the entire service. The pastors request that all business houses in the city close during the three hours of the service, in commemoration of the three hours spent by Christ on the cross. Most of the stores were closed last year. The seven churches cooperating in the Good Friday service are Baptist,. Zion Reforced, Methodist, Christian. Presbyterian, United Brethren and Evangelical. Good Friday services will be held in St. Mary's Catholic church also.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, April 5, 1927.

Spark From Electric Motor Fires Pan Os Gasoline; Child Burned Kokoma, Ind., April 5. — (United i I less) —Two year-old Betty Mae Glosser was in a serious candltlon today with bums received when a spark from an eletcric motor fired a pan of gasoline with which her father, Arthur Closser, was (leaning a washing machine. The little girl was standing by the pan of gasoline and her clothing caught fire as it flamed up. o— CONTRACTS FOR TWO ROADS LET Commissioners Take Steps To Build Two Macadam Roads In County Contracts for building two macadam roads in Adams county wer- a wardjed by the board of county con.- . missioners in session this morning. 1 Roth contracts were awarded to Smith ' and Baker, of Adams county they being the low bidders. The roads to be constructed are the Bartley-Burk road in Jefferson township, one mile, and the Armstrong road in Wabash township. one mile, and the Armstrong i road in Wabash township one and onehalf mile. The bids on the Bartley-Burk road were as follows: Smith and Baker $5,784.45; John W. Kirsch, 7,500; C. , M. Striker, $6,445; Geo. A. Fennig and , Son. $7,800; Clinton Mathys $7,000; , Bears and Dunwoodie. $7,616: McCarty and Son, $8,098.90. The bids on the Armstrong road were: Smith and Baker, $6,273.02: John W. Karsch, $7,000: C. M. Striker $7,340; Geo. W. Fennig, $8,134.53, Clinton Mathys, $7,500. Painting at Infirmary , Dan Cook was awarded the contract for painting the interior of the county BrbfjKS -’■* entered .... Tin- specifications for four bulges' were approved by the board of the authorized to advertize bids for their ' construction at the May session. The bridges to be constructed are the Graber and Hendricks bridges in Monroe township; The Wechter retaining wall. Wabash and Jefferson township and the Amstutz retaining wall in Wabash. township.

Roads are ordered Specifications for the building of five macadam roads were filed by County Engineer Dick Boch. The plans were approved and the auditor authorize to advertise for bids on the Dan Stepler road in Monrce township and the Laughrey road in Blue Creek township bids to be received at the May session. It is estimated that those two roads will cost less than $5,000. The other three roads to be improved later are the Frank Neadstine road in Blue Creek townshtp, the Sam Nussbaum road and the Murphy road in Monroe township. Before bids are reseived on these two roads it will be necessary to give the required lega l notice to property owners. Bids will be received either at the June or July session of the beard. _o — Mrs. Todd To Be Buried Wednesday Funeral services for Mrs. Sadie Todd, 66. of this city who died Monday morning, will be held at the Black funeral chapel, Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock. The Rev H. W. Thompson pastor of the First Christian church of this city will have charge. Burial will be made in the Backenstraw cemetery, south of this city. o " Woman Anxious To Become Taxi Driver Minneapolis. Minn., April 5. —(United Press)—Ruth Youngmark is persistent in efforts to become Minneapolis’ woman taxicab driver. Although her license has been rejected here four times she will soon make another effort to gain the right to wear a chauffeurs’ license. I

BOY SCOUT AREA COUNCIL DRIVE OPENS TOMORROW Workers Called To Meet Tonight To Complete Plans For Campaign GOAL FOR COUNTY IS SET AT S9OO Final preparations will be 1 made at a meeting in the Industrial rooms al 7:30 o’clock this cv'i'ing, for the Boy Scout area council drive, which will be ; made in Decatur and Adams county. Wednesday. The goal set for the drive is S9OO and th: 1 scons of workers are confident that lh.it amount will be raised toino' row. Th meeting for tonight was called by E. W. Lankenau, general chairman of the campaign. About fifty prominj ent citizens have been invited to atj tend the meeting. Four men, James L. Kocher, Cal E. Pe'erson, Herman 11. Myers and Pat Hyland have been appointed chairmen of the soliciting committees. Letters and circulars, explaining - the great work being done among l>oys by the Boy Scout organization and what the proposed area council. I including Adams. Allen, Wells and ■ Whitley counties, will mean to the . hoys, have been mailed to.about 600 [ persons, lodges and clubs. Attention to the (drive was called by the various • pastors d’.irThg tTfeir services last Sunday, and the various clubs and societies are taking the matter up in their meetings this week. Besides Mr. Lankenau. the other officers of the campaign are: M. F. Worthman, vice-cha!rn.an; W. Guy Brown financial chairman; John Nel- ' son. treasurer; and Bryce Thomas, publicity chairman. . ..Ph:fl‘*'JS and Wells r juntv citizens ihave contributed between S7OO .to® quota for Wells county was $1,200. Decatur has two active Boy Scout troops, and excellent work is being done among the some forty members. (CONTIX! l2l> QN PAGE SIX! TEACHER TENURE LAW IS DISCUSSED Adams Countv Trustees Take No Definite Action Regarding New Law 7 While the Adams county township trus'ees, meeting with County Superintendent Clifton Striker, yesterday, took no definite action in regard to the Teacher Tenure law, passed by the s’ate legislature this year, it was generally assumed that each trustee would use his own discretion in rehiring teachers Jor the coming school year. Most trustees stated that they would not rehire any teacher who already had taught a sufficient number of years to make his position permanent in the township. It is thought ♦hat most of the teachers will be released or ransferred to another townshin for a year. The law provides that, after a 'eacher has taught in one township for five years or more, his position becomes nermanent and he cannot be discharged by the trustee excep* after a trial. In most counties of the state, reso'iitions have been passed by the trus‘ees so that no teacher would teach in one townsh’p more than four vpnrs. While no definite action was taken in Adams countv. it is thought that most trustees will follow this ruling. Some trustees may take advantage of giving their teachers a one-year contract pr'or to the date wdien the Hf'l becomes a law. Others will discharge their instructors for a period of one year so they will not become permanent, it is thought.

i Mrs. Milo Hilyard Is Seriously HI Mrs. Milo ILlyard, daughter of County Commissioner Mrs. Frank Breiner, of west of the city, is critiI eally ill at St. Joseph’s hospital, Fort Wayne. Mrs. Hilyard was admitted to the hospital a week ago last Saturday and her condition became very serious last week, ih-r condition is such that she cannot Undergo an operation and little hope is extended for her recovery. __o TO HOLD MUSIC : CONTEST TONIGHT Decatur High School Pupils % To Appear In Practice I Contest I Plans have been completed for the I practice contest to be held at the Decatur high school auditorium to--1 night, at 8 o'clock in preparation for 1 the county high school music contest ’ to be held at Berne, Friday and ‘ Saturday of this week. Miss Dessoleo ’ Chester, head of the music depart--1 rnent of the Decatur schools, an--1 nounced today that tonight’s contest ’ was being held to accustome the pupils to appear before an audience. ' The contest part of the program ’ was added to create interest, and in 1 each event there will be several en- ' tries. An admission of 15 cents will 1 be charged to cover the expense of securing a judge for the contest. ' The public is cordially invited to 1 attend and. a good program is assur--3 ed. The contests will start promptly ’ at 8 o’clock, at the high school audi- ' torium. 1 The program is as follows: Fellows G'ee Club — • ‘T’ll We Meet Again" Whiting . Girls’ Solo — r “Gypsv Love Song" Herbert Isabel! Cloud, Mary Jane DeVor Male Quartet — ’ “Sail On Oh Ship of State” .1. Scot' (a), Arthur Suttles, first tenor i ' Kenne'h Schnepn, second tenor : \V':! , Cliifcrd Maim, second base-iiv-UAUAor.w 1 :.".ui.a4w.». 1 irnw. Ray McClellan, second tenor James Eneeler. first bass ; Grsvdon Dixon, second bass. Girls’ Quartet—“ln Mavtim" Sparks (a) Isabel Cloud, Cleora Baker. Vivien Thomas and Betty Erwin. (b) Mary Jane DeVor, Bernadine Schraluka. Jeanette Beery and Mildred Worthman. Bov’s Solo — | “When Song Is Sweet" Sans Souci Ar'hnr Suttles, James Enceler, I Clifford Mann and Bill Bell. Girls' Duet — “Amaryllis’’ Ghys (a) Isabel Cloud and Mary Jane De- ' Vor (b) Bernadine Schraluka and Jeanett Beery. Saxaphone Solo—- " American Legion March" ... (.avail" > Arthur Suttles. Harold Zwick. Mildred Wortliman, Lillian Worlh(CONTINUED O.V PAGE SIX) ) o WILLSHIRE MAN IS WANTED HERE r Muri Dull Alleged To Have) Obtained Cigarettes Under False Pretense Several days ago. Muri Dull, of Willshire, Ohio, alleged bad-check ' artist, visited Decatur and left a trace ‘ of shady dealings. He called a whole- ’ sale tobacco house in Fort Wayne ’ and stated that he was speaking for r Everett. Hite and Company, wholesale, grocers, and asked that they ship to ' Decatur, via interurban, three cases of cigarettes. 1 When the cigarettes arrived in this ’ city, Dull went to the interurban sta- ’ tlon and signed for the goods, stating 1 he was working for the local whole- ’ sale house. He then took the three cases of cigarettes and sold them at a largo discount. He received $l5O r for the thrqe cases and In a few min- ’ utes disappeared. Sheriff Investigates ' Later, it became known that the 5 (CONTINVBU ON PAGE TWO)

Price Two Cents.

RATE FOR HOME USE IS REDUCED 1-2CENTAK.W.H. City Officials Also Petition For Special Reduced “Cooking Rate” NEW RATE BECOMES EFFECTIVE MAY 1 rite city (iH'icials returned j from Indiuntipolis late this asI ternoon and M. .1. Mylott. superintendent of Ute city light and . power plant, stated that the council liad tiled a petition with the public service commission, asking for a special reduced “cooking rate.” The city petitioned the commission for a four-cent nite for the first 200 K.W.H. and 2*4 cents per K.W.H. for all over 200. Those who use electricity now for cooking purposes are paying 5 cents up to 200 K.W.H. and 2*4 cents over that amount. Tile officials also filed a petition witli the commission asking that the lower commercial light rate of 7V4 cents net per K.W.H. become effec tive May 1. The commission commended the city officials on the splendid management of the local plant and stated that they were doing the. right thing by putting the profits back in the plant through the purchase of new machinery and modern methods which made it possible to cut costs and reduce rates. The Indiana Public Service Commission has ordered a reduction of onehalf cent per K. W. H in the commercial light rate of the Decatur city light asd power plant. The reduced rate becomes effective May 1. 1927. Tiie reduction was ordered yesterdav by the public service commission, based on tiie earnings of the local muni cipal plant for last year. The rate was reduced from 8 cents per K.W.H. to 7*4 cents per K.W.H.. net, and it is estimated that the reduction will save lite light users ot 1 $3.00i). Tiie present ra'.e i- 9 ,-.:s iv.i tits first I.'- 1 ”- vrWti-H-.'r.-cent reduction per K.W.H. if bills are paid by 20th of the month and 5 cents per K.W.H. for all over 1,000. The new rate wall more than likely be gross, the one cent rebate being allowed on bills paid by the 20th of the month. As far as known no change was made in the 5 cent rate, or in the (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) PUPILS TO HOLD COUNTY CONTESTS County Literary And Music Contests To Be Held At Berne This Week The annual Adams county Literary and Music contest will be held at. Berne, Friday and Saturday nights, of this week, with pupils from every high school in the county entered in the various contests. The short story and essay contest already has started and the manuscripts have been sent to the Indiana University department of En'r’lob, where instiuctors will grade them and return them, according to an announcement made this morning by County Superintendent Clifton Striker Because of tile many entries in each division of the contest, it was decided to have one night of tiie contest for the vocal program, including solos, duets and quartets. The other night will be devoted to instrumental music and literary contests. Admission to each night of the contest will be 25 and 35 cents, and the public is cordially invited to attend. Each high school in the county lias several entries and the winning high school will receive a county banner. Pennants will be awarded to th', schools winning indiclduai contests. The Judges and complete program for the meet will be announced later In the week and the rules of the contest also will be announced.

CLEAN UP AND PAINT UP